Rick Scott refuses federal funds for high-speed railway

Supporters of high-speed rail in Florida are scrambling to salvage a planned link between Tampa and Orlando after Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday he was refusing $2.4 billion in federal money for the project.

The rejection drew swift condemnation from most Democrats and some Republicans.

State officials had hoped to expand high-speed rail to Jacksonville by following either the CSX rail line or interstates 4 and 95. But the Tampa-Orlando and Orlando-Miami links had to be built first.

It now appears nothing will happen.

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said they are still looking into ways to get the system built.

Mica said he was disappointed and somewhat surprised by Scott's decision. "This is more than a hiccup," said Mica, whose district includes St. Johns County. "But there are still ways to do it."

Nelson said he spoke with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday, and that LaHood is determined to keep the project on track.

Federal officials are looking into other options, including the possibility of creating an authority among the involved cities where the $2.4 billion could flow, Nelson said.

Mica and Nelson both compared the project to the interstate highway infrastructure projects of the 1950s.

"Can you imagine if the governor had tried to kill Eisenhower's interstate highway system? That's what we are facing today," Nelson said.

In his announcement, Scott criticized federal spending and worried that Florida would be responsible for cost overruns. He also expressed doubt that estimates of 3 million paying customers a year was accurate.

The project was expected to cost $2.7 billion, with a private contractor paying the rest of the money.

Billie Tucker, who leads the First Coast Tea Party, said Scott's credibility was on the line with this issue. The tea party has been critical of high-speed rail projects nationwide.

"We are spending billions of dollars on a luxury item," Tucker said, referring to high-speed rail. "If he'd allowed this to happen, he would have lost the support of the people who worked hard to elect him."

Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, said Scott tried to make the project work, but in the end there was too much risk. He compared it to the Jacksonville Skyway.

"The Skyway loses about $5 million every year, but we can't shut it down because the federal government would want us to give them a hundred million dollars," Weinstein said. "The same risk would exist statewide for this."

But U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., the ranking Democrat on a railway subcommittee, angrily rejected suggestions that taxpayers could be stuck with extra costs.

"There was no way that the state was going to be held liable for cost overruns," Brown said. "Private companies were willing to partner with the state and pay any overruns."

Brown said she would work with Nelson and Mica to try to save the project but was pessimistic about their chances.

"I don't think you can do this without the support of the state," she said.

Unless the project can be salvaged, the $2.4 billion will now go to another state that wants to build high-speed rail.

"I was on the House floor today and people from New York and California are excited about getting our money," Brown said.

This is the second time a high-speed rail has been rejected in Florida. Voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2000 that mandated high-speed rail be constructed, but that amendment was repealed in 2004.

Now REALLY?? Risky business?? "The Skyway loses about $5 million every year, but we can't shut it down because the federal government would want us to give them a hundred million dollars," Weinstein said. "The same risk would exist statewide for this."

So how then does the $5M "deficit" get paid for the luxury item of the Skyway in JAX? It comes out of the JTA budget of about $100M which is money from state gas tax ($30M) and the remainder from tax and federal dollars (unknown split) per Wikipedia. So if the JTA receives Federal money to stay afloat why should there EVER REALLY be an issue of a mere $5M dollars for a "luxury" item that MUST BE OPERATED or else "the federal government would want us to give them a hundred million dollars" if shut down to save $5M?

So exactly how are taxpayers saved from paying for this? The high speed rail money will simply be in another state besides Florida. But Florida taxpayers will have to pay to create rail for California or Michigan or wherever.

So how is this rejection by Rick Scott a good deal for Florida or the US taxpayers? Seriously?

It makes me wonder about the empty notions that pass for political opinion here in our state. Maybe we should also reject Interstate Highway funds. Last time I looked Interstate 95 was not a source of profit. It (I-95) carries only a small percentage of Florida auto traffic, obviously it is a white elephant highway put there for unions and pandering politicians.

When gasoline prices soar rail will look real good. This was the time to get "started" with it and to try and do it right.